Off-road drivers can't escape arrest

Two men — one driving an off-road ATV and the other on an off-road motorcycle — were arrested Saturday in the Burney area after they got some unwanted attention from two Shasta County sheriff's deputies

ATV driver Troy Marks, 30, and motorcyclist Maurice Alessandro, 28, were speeding southbound about 2:30 p.m. on Highway 89 just south of Cassel Road when two deputies spotted them while going north. the sheriff's office said.

The deputies turned around and switched on their lights and sirens in an attempt to make traffic stops. However, the two drivers didn't stop but sped away instead.

The ATV turned into a driveway off Highway 89 and the resident who lives there had to jump over a fence so he wouldn't get hit. Marks, reaching a dead end, turned back around and nearly collided with the deputies' patrol vehicles.

The ATV continued south on the highway until Marks turned onto a dirt road that wasn't big enough for the officers' cars. The deputies searched on foot and found the ATV in thick brush but Marks had run away, the sheriff's office said.

Deputies brought out K-9 Blitz and the dog found Marks, who was arrested without further incident.

Meanwhile, Alessandro had turned into a driveway off Mt. Pleasant Drive but a California Highway Patrol helicopter crew found him in the 19500 block of Highway 89 along with his motorcycle where he was arrested.

Both men were arrested on suspicion of felony evading arrest, possessing drug paraphernalia and multiple vehicle code violations. Marks also was arrested for investigation of a felony probation violation while Alessandro faces a charge of driving on a suspended driver's license.